Contact your elected officials — tell them about bed bugs

I just wanted to remind everyone how important it is to call, or write, your elected officials (city, state, and other representatives) and let them know what a tremendous hardship bed bugs can be.

I did this today, and not for the first time. But I always feel like I am getting a load off my chest.

Those of you in New York City, please sign on with me and the other members of New York vs. Bed Bugs. Since there’s currently a bed bug bill (Intro. 873) under consideration, it’s especially important right now. Renee shows you how to get involved and contact your reps here. And then come back to New York vs. Bed Bugs and leave a comment on this post, letting the group know you did it. (This is important, so New York vs. Bed Bugs can keep track of the effects it is having.)

If you’re not in New York, google the name of your city council or county elected officials. All the local websites I’ve seen tell you who your representatives are, and how to call, write, or email them.

Do some research here and on New York vs. Bed Bugs about what’s being done by other cities like Cincinnati and Toronto, who have bed bug task forces. And tell your elected officials what a mess bed bugs made of your health, skin, schedule, sleep patterns, living room floor (covered in plastic bags), etc. Tell them how much money you spent on your bed bug problems. Tell them how long you had the problem, why it was hard to get rid of, how hard it was to detect in the first place. Tell it like it is: politicians need to hear your stories.

This does not have to be a long conversation/letter/email. But do it, all the same.

Check out the Find Your Representative tool at the League of Women Voters. It’s a national-level look up tool and gives you lots of good links, information and a media guide. It’s pretty cool. (I had been looking for something like this as there was another find your rep tool from a group here in NY, for NY representatives, that has been discontinued. This one at LWV is so comprehensive.)

And people (and organizations) in NYC who want to help us support Intro 873 should definitely consider making a quick call or dropping a note to their council members. It would really help a lot. You don’t know how much. Some council members think there are no bed bugs in their districts.

This is important even if you have already written to your own representative or other city council members on the bed bug issue.

I have written to Quinn on other issues in the past and found her to be very responsive to what New Yorkers ask her to do. Let’s tell her about bed bugs and why the City Council must take action on this issue, shall we?